ISU coach says offense is ahead of defense at this point

Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads says the Cyclone offense has made strides during spring practice. Rhoads and his staff are installing a new spread offense and the coach says past experience with a no-huddle offense has been a plus.

Rhoads says he thinks the offense is actually ahead of the defense, which he says is probably not common. He says that’s evidence that the offense has used the no-huddle and there are schemes that they understand, even though they are called different things in this system.

Rhoads says the players are excited about the potential of the new offense. He says there’s an excitement with the whole football team over the opportunities that the offense will create, and they can take advantage of.

Rhoads says the goal of the new offense is to throw and run the ball with consistency. Rhoads says the number one thing he stresses is that they are going to be a physical team. He says some games might be 70% throwing the ball, but then turn around and run most of the time. Rhoads says even if they throw the ball they are still going to get off at the snap and "knock people in the mouth."

ISU’s first scrimmage of the spring was on Saturday. The Cyclones’ spring game is April 18th.